Irish Eyes are Smiling at Lynn Academy

When championship Irish dancer Maureen Collins-Novaco sought a new location for Lynn Academy of Irish Dance, Hillsborough was an easy choice.

The Jill Court location fit all her criteria.

“Irish dancing is specialized. Students travel for lessons. This is centrally located and the building has what we needed. There’s so much here,” said the Gladstone resident.

Only in its second year in the township, Lynn Academy’s roots go back much further than the time it's been in Hillsborough.

Collins-Novaco, the youngest of the six children of two education professors, recalled her mother signing her up for Irish dance lessons partially to help her learn about her heritage and partially because other girls were signing up and she wouldn’t have to drive the carpool very often.

After a year, however, all the others had dropped out. By then, Collins-Novaco had developed a passion for Irish dance and wanted to continue. She went on to win numerous titles, including two first-place finishes in the North American Irish Dance Championships and placing in the World Irish Dance Championships in Ireland.

She went on to perform in Riverdance on Broadway and at the Kennedy Arts Center and turned her attention to teaching. She became a TCRG (a certified Irish dance instructor) and ADCRG (a certified Irish dance adjudicator).

About 10 years ago, Collins-Novaco put her MBA from Iona Hagen School of Business to use as owner/director of the Lynn Academy, working closely with her sister Mary Lynn Collins-Callanan, also an award-winning Irish dancer and a highly recognized ballet dancer/instructor, who works at the New Rochelle and Tarrytown, New York. locations.  There is also a studio in Stamford, Connecticut.

Today, instead of bringing home the titles herself, Collins-Novaco takes pride in watching her students “work hard, perform their best and help them achieve their own Irish dancing goals.”

The fact that she took dancers to the All-Ireland Championships this year and that eight of her dancers have qualified for the world championships in Belfast in April is like the “icing on the cake”.

Plus, students from the Lynn Academy will be performing in 32 shows and four parades during this St. Patrick’s Day “season.”

While many of the dance students are Irish—thought it's definitely not a requirement to dance there— not all enrolled to learn about their culture.

Kathleen Schaab’s daughter Maura, 8, saw a performance about a year ago and, as her mother recalled, “she really liked it.” In fact, she recently entered her first competition.

Alayna Langan, 11, has been studying Irish dance for 6 years, ever since a troupe performed at her preschool.

“I begged my mother to let me do it. The steps are really cool,” she said.

Amie Moore, 11, admitted she saw the Wiggles do an Irish dance on their television show.

“I tried to do it but I couldn’t so I started taking lessons,” she said.

That was more than a year ago and she proudly displays the technical skills she has learned as she and her fellow students move swiftly across the floor, focusing on perfecting their posture, rhythm, steps and pointed toes.

“It’s a great form of exercise,” said Collins-Novaco. “It keeps them really busy, with classes and competitions. It is also a good way for the girls to increase their confidence.”

The girls also perform at talent shows and nursing homes throughout the year, she added.

But perhaps most importantly, she noted, “it’s a real family environment.”

In addition to Irish dance classes for ages 3 through college-age, Lynn Academy offers private lessons and a mini-trampoline fitness program.